As US western wildfires ravage property, protection services boom
3 years, 2 months ago

As US western wildfires ravage property, protection services boom

Al Jazeera  

Businesses that provide wildfire risk assessments and home hardening services say demand is rising as US western wildfires grow fiercer. “I was reading about this fire and thinking, ‘Wow, California is burning.’” Fires of such magnitude were indeed seen as exceptional events nearly two decades ago, but the passage of time has intensified nature’s fury. Glessner travels throughout the western United States to inspect sites and offer consultations to clients ranging from vineyard owners to homeowners, “For residential properties, my services generally range from $500 to $1,500,” he said, adding that he charges more for large businesses such as wineries, equestrian and animal rescue shelters. “The wildfire problem is not going away anytime soon and as long as home building and populations keep increasing in wildfire-prone areas, there will be plenty of room for us and other similar businesses.” Even for veteran firefighters such as Glessner, who started his career in the early 1980s, the current scale of fire season is stunning. “Any time an organisation is spreading information about the importance of creating defensible spaces, that’s a positive.” “Defensible space” refers to a zone of around 30 metres around a property where homeowners can take steps such as removing dead and dry vegetation, keeping gutters and rooftops clear of leaves, and trimming shrubs and trees to maximise vertical and horizontal spacing.

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History of this topic

Southern California wildfire destroys 132 structures as officials look for fierce winds to subside
Top News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Southern California wildfire destroys 132 structures as officials look for fierce winds to subside

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors …

A wildfire fueled by strong winds has devastated Southern California, thousands evacuated
1 month, 2 weeks ago

A wildfire fueled by strong winds has devastated Southern California, thousands evacuated

Hindustan Times  

A fast-moving wildfire fueled by heavy winds was tearing through a community northwest of Los Angeles for a second day Thursday after destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee when it exploded in size in only a few hours. Red Flag warnings issued as SoCal braces for ‘extreme and life-threatening’ fire behaviour Officials in several Southern …

Strong winds fuel rapid spread of wildfires in Southern California
Trending News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Strong winds fuel rapid spread of wildfires in Southern California

NPR  

Strong winds fuel rapid spread of wildfires in Southern California toggle caption Noah Berger/AP CAMARILLO, Calif. — A Southern California wildfire has destroyed 132 structures, mostly homes, in less than two days, fire officials said Thursday as raging winds were forecast to ease. Sponsor Message Some 10,000 people remained under evacuation orders Thursday as the Mountain Fire continued to threaten …

Thousands in Southern California told to evacuate as wind-fed wildfire spreads
Trending News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Thousands in Southern California told to evacuate as wind-fed wildfire spreads

NPR  

Thousands in Southern California told to evacuate as wind-fed wildfire spreads toggle caption Ethan Swope/FR171736 AP MOORPARK, Calif. — California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that fed a fast-moving wildfire, which destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee as forecasters warned of the potential for “extreme and life-threatening” blazes. Meanwhile to the south, Los Angeles …

California wildfires are spreading and intensifying faster, putting more people in danger
1 month, 4 weeks ago

California wildfires are spreading and intensifying faster, putting more people in danger

LA Times  

San Bernardino County firefighters work to save a home in Wrightwood as they battle the Bridge Fire in September. A new paper in the journal Science puts that sentiment to the test, with startling findings: California fires spread almost four times faster in 2020 than they had in 2001. “People are pretty good at putting out all fires,” said Park …

Wildfires are coming to the Southeast. Can landowners mitigate the risk in time?
2 months ago

Wildfires are coming to the Southeast. Can landowners mitigate the risk in time?

Salon  

Courtney Steed often burns barefoot. “You have these dynamics playing out in the region, then you throw in changes in climate and potentially warmer and drier conditions,” Donovan said, “and you set yourself up for more destructive wildfires.” Such dynamics played out in April, 2023, when a blaze in North Carolina’s Croatan National Forest jumped from 7,000 acres to 32,000 …

Firefighters gaining control over destructive Southern California wildfires
3 months, 1 week ago

Firefighters gaining control over destructive Southern California wildfires

LA Times  

The Airport fire spared the city of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County but scorched nearby hills. “We’re not letting the weather deceive us,” said Kenichi Haskett, Los Angeles County Fire Department public information officer for the Bridge fire. “I know the weather is cooperating, but we’re still challenged with steep conditions.” On Friday, containment of the 52,801-acre Bridge fire increased …

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California
3 months, 1 week ago

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California

China Daily  

Xinhua | Updated: 2024-09-11 09:21 Firefighters monitor the progression of the Line Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest's mountains over Highland, California, US Sept 8, 2024. LOS ANGELES - Three fast-moving wildfires continued to burn in Southern California Tuesday as millions of residents in the region are still under an excessive heat warning. The largest one, dubbed the Line …

Southern California wildfires worsen firefighter shortage as West explodes
3 months, 1 week ago

Southern California wildfires worsen firefighter shortage as West explodes

LA Times  

Firefighters battling wildfires burning in Southern California are stretched thin amid a nationwide shortage of firefighters, aircraft and contractors. On Wednesday, more than 400 personnel, seven helicopters and four large air tankers were assigned to the Bridge fire, said Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the California Interagency Complex Incident Management Team. Chris Cline, division chief with the Oregon Department of …

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California
3 months, 1 week ago

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California

China Daily  

Firefighters monitor the progression of the Line Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest's mountains over Highland, California, US Sept 8, 2024. LOS ANGELES - Three fast-moving wildfires continued to burn in Southern California Tuesday as millions of residents in the region are still under an excessive heat warning. The largest one, dubbed the Line Fire, had scorched at least …

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California
3 months, 1 week ago

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California

China Daily  

Xinhua | Updated: 2024-09-11 09:21 Firefighters monitor the progression of the Line Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest's mountains over Highland, California, US Sept 8, 2024. LOS ANGELES - Three fast-moving wildfires continued to burn in Southern California Tuesday as millions of residents in the region are still under an excessive heat warning. The largest one, dubbed the Line …

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California
3 months, 1 week ago

Three massive wildfires continue to burn in southern California

China Daily  

Firefighters monitor the progression of the Line Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest's mountains over Highland, California, US Sept 8, 2024. LOS ANGELES - Three fast-moving wildfires continued to burn in Southern California Tuesday as millions of residents in the region are still under an excessive heat warning. The largest one, dubbed the Line Fire, had scorched at least …

Wildfires tear through western US during heatwave
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Wildfires tear through western US during heatwave

Hindustan Times  

Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said Monday. Wildfires tear through western US during heatwave A blaze burning out of a control near Los Angeles sparked mandatory evacuations as it tore through swathes of tinder-dry California countryside around popular tourist spots. "Dangerous heat …

Wildfires rage across western US amid intense heat wave
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Wildfires rage across western US amid intense heat wave

China Daily  

A firefighter extinguishes hot spots in a burned out structure as the Boyles Fire burns in Clearlake, California, US Sept 8, 2024. SACRAMENTO, the United States - Fueled by excessive heat and drought, several large wildfires raged across the western United States on Sunday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and worrying climate experts about more fires in …

Wildfires rage across western US amid intense heat wave
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Wildfires rage across western US amid intense heat wave

China Daily  

Xinhua | Updated: 2024-09-09 16:43 A firefighter extinguishes hot spots in a burned out structure as the Boyles Fire burns in Clearlake, California, US Sept 8, 2024. SACRAMENTO, the United States - Fueled by excessive heat and drought, several large wildfires raged across the western United States on Sunday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and worrying climate …

Wildfires rage across western US amid intense heat wave
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Wildfires rage across western US amid intense heat wave

China Daily  

Xinhua | Updated: 2024-09-09 16:43 A firefighter extinguishes hot spots in a burned out structure as the Boyles Fire burns in Clearlake, California, US Sept 8, 2024. SACRAMENTO, the United States - Fueled by excessive heat and drought, several large wildfires raged across the western United States on Sunday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and worrying climate …

Firefighters significantly tame California’s fourth-largest wildfire on record
4 months ago

Firefighters significantly tame California’s fourth-largest wildfire on record

Associated Press  

CHICO, Calif. — California’s largest wildfire this year has been significantly tamed as the state’s initially fierce fire season has, at least temporarily, fallen into a relative calm. The Park Fire was 53% contained Monday after scorching nearly 671 square miles in several northern counties, destroying 637 structures and damaging 49 as it became the state’s fourth-largest wildfire on record. …

California wildfires off to explosive start, burning 30 times as many acres as all of last year
4 months, 3 weeks ago

California wildfires off to explosive start, burning 30 times as many acres as all of last year

LA Times  

Laguna Beach firefighter Brian Adams keeps a close eye on fast-moving flames as dozens of firefighters manage the southeastern flank of the Borel fire near the community of Twin Oaks in Kern County. In 2022, 7,477 wildfires burned 331,358 acres, according to Cal Fire data. The fifth-largest wildfire in the state’s history, it has scorched almost 390,000 acres and remains …

Wildfires plague the West amid a scorching heat wave and high winds
5 months ago

Wildfires plague the West amid a scorching heat wave and high winds

Associated Press  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — At least a half-dozen homes lay in ruins Monday after one of many dangerous wildfires in the West suddenly swept into a Southern California neighborhood during a blistering heat wave. The implosion of the plume sent winds of 50 mph in every direction, raising fears the fire would jump I-84, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office said in …

California’s wildfires are burning far more land so far this year than in 2023
5 months, 1 week ago

California’s wildfires are burning far more land so far this year than in 2023

NPR  

California’s wildfires are burning far more land so far this year than in 2023 toggle caption Eric Thayer/AP So far in this year’s California’s wildfire season, about 20 times more acres of land have burned than around this time last year. “We are not just in a fire season, but we are in a fire year,” Joe Tyler, director of …

California reports first wildfire death of the 2024 season as fires persist across the West
5 months, 1 week ago

California reports first wildfire death of the 2024 season as fires persist across the West

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — Wildfires fueled by strong winds and an extended heat wave have led to the first death in California of the 2024 season, while wind-whipped flames in Arizona have forced hundreds to flee from what tribal leaders are calling the “most serious” wildfire on their reservation in decades. California’s first death of the fire season was reported after …

‘A fire year’: California wildfires have burned more than 20 times as much land as last year
5 months, 1 week ago

‘A fire year’: California wildfires have burned more than 20 times as much land as last year

LA Times  

After a wet winter and hot summer, this year’s fire season is off to a fierce start. “With the hotter weather and the wind events,” Acuna said, “all of those added together for a much faster moving, much more vigorous fire season.” This week, the Mina fire in the northwestern part of the state may have claimed California’s first wildfire-related …

Wildfire destroys 13 homes in Northern California as heat wave is parked over the West
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Wildfire destroys 13 homes in Northern California as heat wave is parked over the West

LA Times  

A firefighter keeps watch on advancing flames from the Lake fire in Los Olivos on Saturday. A wildfire that broke out near Oroville last week amid California’s record-breaking heat wave destroyed 13 homes and more than a dozen other buildings, state fire officials said. “The fire broke out on a day that was extremely hot, quite windy and the humidity …

Opinion: Wildfire smoke kills thousands of Californians a year. It doesn’t have to be so deadly
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: Wildfire smoke kills thousands of Californians a year. It doesn’t have to be so deadly

LA Times  

When wildfires rage, the immediate threat is obvious — but smoke from the fires actually kills far more people than the flames do. As fires become more frequent, smoke is leading to a public health crisis, likely contributing to more than 52,000 premature deaths across California from 2008 to 2018, we recently found. In years with lots of fire activity …

California wildfires have already burned 90,000 acres, and summer is just beginning
6 months ago

California wildfires have already burned 90,000 acres, and summer is just beginning

LA Times  

California’s summer is off to a fiery start after an explosion of wildfire activity across the state this week, with blazes stretching firefighting resources thin, forcing evacuations and scorching several homes, businesses and bone-dry hillsides. Perilous weather conditions in the last days of spring before Thursday — strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures — fueled flames from Los Angeles …

With fires burning again, is California becoming uninsurable?
6 months ago

With fires burning again, is California becoming uninsurable?

LA Times  

Thursday marks the beginning of summer, but early wildfires have already scorched the outskirts of L.A. and the Bay Area. While the giant wildfires of 2017 and 2018 had a huge impact, requiring insurers to pay claims equivalent to more than 20 years of profits, the state’s insurance problems predate the fires. California’s failure to update the old rules governing …

Growing wildfire risk leaves states grappling with how to keep property insurers from fleeing
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Growing wildfire risk leaves states grappling with how to keep property insurers from fleeing

Associated Press  

BOISE, Idaho — Months after a catastrophic fire burned more than 2,200 homes in Hawaii, some property owners are getting more bad news — their property insurance won’t be renewed because their insurance company has deemed the risk too high. “I think most of the insurers, you know, I’m very grateful that they’re committed to the Hawaii market, so we …

California wildfire puts 1,300 homes at risk as Santa Ana winds whip flames
1 year, 1 month ago

California wildfire puts 1,300 homes at risk as Santa Ana winds whip flames

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Highland Fire started around 12.30pm on Monday in Aguanga, a tiny town located in a rural, hilly area …

Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
1 year, 3 months ago

Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will let insurance companies consider climate change when setting their prices, the state’s chief regulator announced Thursday, a move aimed at preventing insurers from fleeing the state over fears of massive losses from wildfires and other natural disasters. On Thursday, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said the state will write new rules to let insurers look …

Crews balance firefighting and protecting a fragile ecosystem in containing California-Nevada blaze
1 year, 4 months ago

Crews balance firefighting and protecting a fragile ecosystem in containing California-Nevada blaze

Associated Press  

MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE, Calif. — Firefighters battling a massive blaze in California’s Mojave National Preserve on Tuesday faced the difficult task of stopping the fire without bulldozers and other heavy equipment that could damage the region’s famous Joshua trees and other sensitive plants. While it’s one of the largest national park units outside of Alaska and Hawaii, the vast majority …

New wildfire spreading in central California mountains
2 years, 3 months ago

New wildfire spreading in central California mountains

Hindustan Times  

California's latest wildfire has spread rapidly in the US state's central mountains, just as firefighters were bringing a big blaze south of Los Angeles under control, authorities said Sunday. New wildfire spreading in central California mountains The Mosquito Fire has now swept through an area of more than 41,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada range northeast of San Francisco in …

A Northern California wildfire has injured several people and destroyed homes
2 years, 3 months ago

A Northern California wildfire has injured several people and destroyed homes

NPR  

A Northern California wildfire has injured several people and destroyed homes Enlarge this image toggle caption Hung T. Vu/The Record Searchlight via AP Hung T. Vu/The Record Searchlight via AP WEED, Calif. — Thousands of people remained under evacuation orders Saturday after a wind-whipped wildfire raged through rural Northern California, injuring people and torching an unknown number of homes. Allison …

Thousands flee, several hurt as wildfire scorches California
2 years, 3 months ago

Thousands flee, several hurt as wildfire scorches California

Al Jazeera  

In the last five years, the western US state has experienced the largest and most destructive fires in its history. The fire that began Friday near a wood products plant quickly blew into a neighbourhood on the northern edge of Weed but then carried the flames away from the city of about 2,600 people. Allison Hendrickson, spokeswoman for Dignity Health …

Proposed regulations would compel insurers to account for wildfire mitigation efforts
2 years, 9 months ago

Proposed regulations would compel insurers to account for wildfire mitigation efforts

LA Times  

A firefighting helicopter drops water on homes in Irvine Cove to protect them from the Emerald fire on Feb. 10. Insurance providers in California will have to incorporate proactive wildfire mitigation efforts into their rates for homeowners and businesses under proposed new regulations, state officials announced Friday. “Holding insurance companies accountable for accurately rating wildfire risk in the premiums they …

Wildfires are getting worse across the globe. How does California compare?
2 years, 10 months ago

Wildfires are getting worse across the globe. How does California compare?

LA Times  

An alarming new United Nations report warns that the number of extreme wildfires is expected to increase 50% globally by the end of the century, and that governments are largely unprepared for the burgeoning crisis. “We hear that people in D.C. think of fire as a Western issue, or a Californian issue, but it really isn’t — it’s a global …

California sets home, community standards to lower fire risk
2 years, 10 months ago

California sets home, community standards to lower fire risk

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A fire-resistant roof, at least 5 feet of defensible space around a home, a clearly defined evacuation route in a neighborhood and the removal of vegetation overgrowth in a community are some of the new statewide insurance standards to reduce the wildfire risk of older homes, California officials announced Monday. Dubbed “Safer from Wildfires,” the new standards …

If you live in a fire-prone part of California, this road map can help you save on insurance
2 years, 10 months ago

If you live in a fire-prone part of California, this road map can help you save on insurance

LA Times  

With the fire season growing longer and wildfires increasing in intensity, Californians living in fire-prone areas are having a harder time finding affordable insurance for their homes — if they can find coverage at all. For more detailed suggestions, consult Cal Fire’s “Hardening Your Home” site, its low-cost retrofit list and the University of California’s preparing your home webpage. The …

Firefighters make progress coralling big California wildfire
3 years, 2 months ago

Firefighters make progress coralling big California wildfire

Associated Press  

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Firefighters reported significant progress in corralling a wildfire in Southern California coastal mountains on Friday. The Alisal Fire in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara grew only slightly since Thursday morning to 26.4 square miles and containment of the blaze jumped to 41%, up from 5% 24 hours earlier. Elsewhere in California, gusty winds …

Wildfire warning issued across California as strong wind, drought and high heat brings fire risk
3 years, 3 months ago

Wildfire warning issued across California as strong wind, drought and high heat brings fire risk

Daily Mail  

The National Weather Service has issued a wildfire warning for most of Northern California as fast-moving thunderstorms with lightning and little rain moved across the area early Friday, raising the risk of new wildfires in the drought-stricken region. The National Weather Service has issued a wildfire warning for most of Northern California as fast-moving thunderstorms with lightning and little rain …

National forests closed as California wildfires surge
3 years, 4 months ago

National forests closed as California wildfires surge

India TV News  

Millions of acres of national forest in Northern California are being closed because of dangerous fire conditions that already have sent a score of blazes raging through the area and destroyed hundreds of homes. The U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that beginning on Aug. 22 it will close nine national forests from near Lake Tahoe at the Nevada border on …

Devastating wildfires scorch northern California
3 years, 4 months ago

Devastating wildfires scorch northern California

Al Jazeera  

Northern California wildfires that have incinerated two mountain communities continue marching through the Sierra Nevada range while a utility company purposely blacked out as many as 51,000 customers to prevent new blazes. Two weeks after the Dixie Fire destroyed most of the Gold Rush-era town of Greenville, the Caldor Fire a few miles southeast exploded through tinder-dry trees and ravaged …

California's largest fire burns homes as blazes scorch US West | See Pics
3 years, 4 months ago

California's largest fire burns homes as blazes scorch US West | See Pics

India Today  

California’s largest wildfire merged with a smaller blaze and destroyed homes in remote areas with limited access for firefighters, as numerous other fires gained strength and threatened property across the US West. Cooler weather has helped calm two gigantic wildfires in the US West, but a tally of property losses mounted as authorities got better access to a tiny California …

New technology propels efforts to fight Western wildfires
3 years, 5 months ago

New technology propels efforts to fight Western wildfires

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As drought- and wind-driven wildfires have become more dangerous across the American West in recent years, firefighters have tried to become smarter in how they prepare. When “critical weather” is predicted — hot, dry winds or lightning storms — the technology, on top of hard-earned experience, allows California planners to pre-position fire engines, bulldozers, aircraft and hand …

Two fast-moving California fires are creating their own dangerous weather systems
3 years, 5 months ago

Two fast-moving California fires are creating their own dangerous weather systems

LA Times  

Jessica Bell takes a video as the Dixie fire burns along Highway 70 in Plumas National Forest on Friday. “Right now,” said Tamarack fire incident spokesman Mike DeFries, “there’s a lot happening all at once.” The 5-day-old Dixie fire spanning Butte and Plumas counties has stymied fire crews as it continues to swell — doubling in size to roughly 60,000 …

Western US wildfires force hundreds from their homes
3 years, 5 months ago

Western US wildfires force hundreds from their homes

Al Jazeera  

A growing wildfire in a bone-dry forest in the Western United States has forced hundreds of people from their homes as it charred more than 854sq km and showed no signs of slowing on Wednesday amid a blistering heatwave and drought. Tim McCarley, one of the evacuees, told the Reuters news agency earlier this week that sheriff’s deputies and state …

Wildfires threaten homes, land across 10 Western states
3 years, 5 months ago

Wildfires threaten homes, land across 10 Western states

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

California fires are burning faster, hotter, more intensely — and getting harder to fight
3 years, 5 months ago

California fires are burning faster, hotter, more intensely — and getting harder to fight

LA Times  

The fires have burned more than 140,000 acres, from soaring mountains along the California-Nevada border to forest north of Mt. “All else equal, drier vegetation means more intense fires,” Swain said, noting that “intensity” refers both to the heat of a fire and to its behavior. “That dryness,” Tingley added, “just creates these tinderbox conditions.” So far this year, many …

California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: ‘Climate change is real, it’s bad’
3 years, 5 months ago

California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: ‘Climate change is real, it’s bad’

LA Times  

Plumes of smoke rise above Frenchman Lake as the Sugar fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex, burns in Plumas National Forest on Thursday. Though last year was the worst wildfire season California has seen — with over 4 million acres burned — the potential to surpass it is there, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff. In Southern California, all three …

California wildfire advances as heat wave blankets US West
3 years, 5 months ago

California wildfire advances as heat wave blankets US West

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — Firefighters struggled to contain an exploding Northern California wildfire under blazing temperatures as another heat wave blanketed the West, prompting an excessive heat warning for inland and desert areas. Death Valley in southeastern California’s Mojave Desert reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service’s reading at Furnace Creek. The National Weather Service warned …

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